Navigating Life Transitions and Work Stress: Why You’re Not Alone
By Deborah Walker, MA, RP
Life is full of transitions—some expected, others uninvited. Whether it’s a career change, becoming a new parent, caring for aging parents, or adjusting to retirement, these changes can be deeply disruptive. Even positive transitions can evoke stress, anxiety, or a sense of loss. When work stress is layered on top—deadlines, workplace conflict, or a disconnect between values and job demands—the result can be overwhelming.
Why Transitions Trigger Stress
Research shows that major life changes often challenge our identity, disrupt routines, and place demands on our coping resources. Schlossberg’s Transition Theory (1981; Goodman et al., 2006) highlights that how we adjust depends not only on the nature of the change but also on our internal and external supports. Without adequate support or preparation, even anticipated transitions can lead to emotional exhaustion.
Workplace stress, meanwhile, has been extensively studied. The Job Demand-Control model (Karasek & Theorell, 1990) links high demands and low autonomy with increased psychological strain. Chronic stress of this kind is associated with anxiety, sleep disturbance, and even physical illness (Kivimäki et al., 2015).
Stress Doesn’t Always Look Like “Stress”
Sometimes, clients come in saying they feel “off” but can’t pinpoint why. They’re not crying at their desk or calling in sick, but they may feel:
• Unmotivated or disconnected from their work
• Irritable with coworkers or loved ones
• Preoccupied with “what ifs” or self-doubt
• Tired but unable to rest
Research from the Canadian Standards Association (2013) emphasizes that psychological safety in the workplace is not just about extreme burnout—it’s also about recognizing subtle distress before it escalates.
You Don’t Have to “Tough It Out” Alone
It’s common to believe that stress is “just part of life,” or that you should be able to handle transitions on your own. But therapy can help you clarify values, build coping strategies, and create space for reflection.
As someone with a background in both nursing and psychotherapy, I bring a holistic lens to stress and transition. Therapy is not about pathology—it’s about strengthening your ability to adapt, recover, and make meaning out of change.
If you're in a time of transition, or if work stress is wearing you down, you're not weak—you're human. And you're not alone.
References
• Goodman, J., Schlossberg, N.K., & Anderson, M.L. (2006). Counseling Adults in Transition: Linking Practice with Theory. Springer Publishing.
• Karasek, R., & Theorell, T. (1990). Healthy Work: Stress, Productivity, and the Reconstruction of Working Life. Basic Books.
• Kivimäki, M., et al. (2015). Long working hours and risk of coronary heart disease and stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis. The Lancet, 386(10005), 1739–1746.
• Canadian Standards Association. (2013). Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace – Prevention, Promotion, and Guidance to Staged Implementation (CSA Z1003).
